Latest in Politics Highlight
Latest in Politics
Pool Party
ŠΘ # # # The guests enjoyed a day relaxing and socializing by the pool away from work, here, Fatma, Nisreen and Rania # # Maha Nasr posing with Marwa and Rasha
Poultry company to expand slaughtering capacity by more than three times with new facility
CAIRO: Cairo Poultry Company is behaving strangely for a business in the midst of one of its industry s worst crises. As chicken retailers and even some producers have struggled to survive since the outbreak of avian flu in February, Cairo Poultry has increased its capital, paid out dividends and recently announced plans to build …
Competition narrows for third mobile license
CAIRO: The board of directors of Egypt’s National Telecom Regulatory Authority (NTRA) announced today that 9 out of 11 bids for the country’s third mobile license have passed the technical evaluation. The two bidders that have been disqualified were both made up of consortiums. Emac for Information Systems, a company affiliated with Kuwait’s Kharafi Group, …
'New Zarqawi' has strong links to Al-Qaeda core: U.S.
WASHINGTON: An Egyptian militant pinpointed by the United States as the new leader of the Al-Qaeda network in Iraq after the death of Abu Musab Al-Zarqawi has strong links to Osama bin Laden s leadership, the military said Friday Abu Ayyub Al-Masri met Zarqawi, who was killed in a U.S. air strike on Wednesday, at …
Hamas brings 4.5 million euros into Gaza
GAZA: A Hamas official openly brought 4.5 million euros into the Gaza Strip through its border with Egypt on Saturday, said a spokesman for a European Union contingent that monitors the crossing point. International donors and Israel have frozen funds to the Palestinian Authority since it came under Hamas control after the Islamic militant group …
Mingling contemporary and traditional music
Iraqi musician Naseer Shama concert features outstanding oud CAIRO: A remarkable live oud recital by Iraqi musician Naseer Shama was held at the American University in Cairo (AUC) as part of the two-day Gender and Empire Conference by the Cynthia Nelson Institute for Gender and Women’s Studies. Shama began with one of his latest compositions, …
Egypt rakes in record Suez Canal income
ISMAILIYA: Egypt s income from Suez Canal transit fees reached a record $324.6 million in May, the canal authority said Sunday. A total of 1,563 ships crossed the canal in May, up from 1,466 for the same period last year, generating an extra $42 million dollars, a canal official said. The tonnage soared by eight …
Court blocks access to transcripts in bombing trial
ISMAILIYA, Egypt: A court Saturday refused to grant defense lawyers access to key documents in the trial of suspects in the deadly bombings of resorts in Taba and Nuweiba, an AFP correspondent said. The defense had demanded access to transcripts of testimonies given by state security officers, saying they were crucial for its case. However, …
Iran's Larijani says atomic offer contains problems
CAIRO: Iran s chief nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani said on Sunday there were problems as well as positive points in an incentive package put forward by six world powers to persuade Tehran to stop atomic fuel work. These proposals contain some positive points. At the same time there are problems and ambiguous points, said Larijani, …
IT, private sector and government cooperate for advancement of women
CAIRO: The collaboration of the public and private sector was the center of the first sessions of the Global Summit of Women 2006 yesterday. Through a briefing of the ministerial roundtable that preceded the summit, different female ministries and leaders stressed on the importance of the collective efforts of both sectors in achieving development goals, …
World condemns Israel over killing of Palestinian civilians
Brotherhood calls attacks ‘new massacre’ AMMAN: Israel faced international condemnation on Saturday over the killing of eight Palestinian civilians, including three children, while they picnicked on a Gaza beach. The United States, Israel s staunchest ally, voiced its regret for the killing and wounding of innocent Palestinians, while urging both sides to show restraint and …
Homemade snacks
CAIRO: Whenever you hear that friends or family are coming over to watch a football game or even a movie, food delivery is always the first choice. Pizza and chips and dips, of course, are all time favorite for large informal gatherings. But adding some homemade snacks to the table gives the guests more options …
Dancing the night away
IRI's closure highlights difficulty of working in Egypt
U.S. use democracy institute as reason for cutting aid CAIRO: On June 4, the International Republican Institute (IRI) was asked to stop all functions by the government until it had received a permit to conduct their activities in the country. The IRI has closed its office in Cairo until further notice, and have even begun …
Batman meets Aladdin in the form of 21st century comic book heroes
Middle Eastern super heroes to take America Associated Press LOS ANGELES: If Batman had a twin sister, her name most likely would be Aya, princess of darkness. Just like Batman s alter-ego, Bruce Wayne, Middle Eastern comic book superstar Aya launched her quest for vengeance against evil after witnessing her father s murder. And while …
Israel allows Egyptian relief aid into Gaza
CAIRO: Israel allowed seven lorries loaded with Egyptian food aid to enter the Gaza Strip through its territory Thursday after the goods had been blocked for more than a month, security sources said. The 66 tons of flour and sugar donated by the Islamic Sharia Association was allowed through the Kerem Shalom crossing, on Israeli …
Bar Association calls for political freedom
Solidarity with detained activists and judges reaffirmed CAIRO: In a conference hosted by the freedom committee of Egypt’s Bar Association, the opposition, independent political forces and Muslim Brotherhood renewed their criticism of the regime and re-asserted their solidarity with the detained pro-reform activists and the previously prosecuted judges. “We are convened here today to show …
House spurns bipartisan effort to prod Egypt to increase commitment to democracy
WASHINGTON: The House of Representatives beat back a bipartisan effort to prod Egypt to strengthen its commitment to democracy and improve its human rights record. On a 225-198 vote, the House rejected a proposal Thursday that would have cut $100 million from the $1.7 billion in aid slated for Egypt in a $21.3 billion foreign …
Present and Tense: We've got company
We were cruising at a leisurely nine knots off the west coast of Nassau, Franki and I, the usual bodyguards, and a few models from my last fashion show in Santa Fe, quality time at last. In a day or two, we’d be at Frankie’s newly-acquired home in Cockburn Town, the mansion he bought three …
Empowered by the superpower
Grass-root organizations supported by the U.S. government review their progress ALEXANDRIA: About 30 members of NGOs and political movements from throughout the region gathered in Egypt this week to exchange their experiences and attend seminars arranged by the American government s Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) on issues relevant to civil societies All participants belong …
Muslim women do not feel oppression: world survey
NEW YORK: Muslim women do not mind the veil but want to vote as they wish, according to a survey released Thursday, in which respondents did not feel oppression in Muslim countries. Lebanon had the highest proportion of women who feel they should be allowed to make their own decisions on voting, at 97 percent, …
Egyptians struggle with their reaction to El Zarqawi
CAIRO: Confusion dominates Arab and Egyptian reactions to Abu Mosab El Zarqawi s death. Was he freedom fighter, terrorist or American agent? Talking to several Cairenes gives no straight answer to the question. Diaa Rashwan, political analyst at Al Ahram Center for Strategic and Political Studies, says that based on his conversations with other locals …
Arab security services and the crisis in democratic change
The lack of democratic breakthroughs worthy of mention in Arab countries has spurred debate about barriers to change. Much of this debate has focused on economic, social and cultural factors, or on the fragility of political forces demanding democracy. The debate would be incomplete, however, without a discussion of the means by which authoritarian Arab …
My Name Is Bond
http://www.mi6.co.uk/mi6.php3 My favorite Bond movie is On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (1969). That’s the one where James Bond gets married, although his wife gets conveniently killed shortly thereafter. The story is preposterous, but the surprises keep piling up, and the stunts are great (ski chases and car chases). And most of all, the score is …
Think big
Costly audio and visual equipment are essential for following World Cup CAIRO: Yesterday’s kick-off of the World Cup found many avid fans of the sport and this particular event scrambling to the nearest café or home with the largest television screen to watch the first game. “The World Cup is not the same without a …
Share the fever
Cafes and restaurants make changes to suit World Cup fans CAIRO: On June 9, the world had its eyes set on Germany and the opening ceremony of the World Cup. Coinciding with the summer, the tournament poses a little dilemma. One cannot just stay at home to watch the matches and resist going out. Many …
Is the Eiffel Tower off limits to Egyptians?
CAIRO: Tourism is one of Egypt’s largest sectors of the economy. Foreign nationals flock to each year in order to see the ancient and modern wonders that Egypt offers. Yet, it has become evident that some Egyptians are not given the same opportunity to travel abroad. The story of one Egyptian man and his desire …
Egyptians prepare for costly World Cup view
Millions to miss seeing it on national television Agence France-Presse CAIRO: Watching this year s World Cup tournament could turn out to be an expensive experience for millions of Egyptian fans after talks to broadcast the event freely on state television hit a snag. The government continued Thursday to negotiate a deal with the Arab …
Crossing the line between reality and fantasy
World Cup fans sign up for virtual football game linked to the tournament CAIRO: I was sitting with my husband watching a football game. A team scored and my husband had a big grin whispering “yes. A few minutes later the same team scored, his grin suddenly switched to a frown. I didn’t understand and …
A month of magic
A zillion stories have been written about the 2006 World Cup. What’s one more? The conditions are right for an exciting World Cup and what’s more exciting than Brazil, whose attacking resources stand comparison with anything it has produced in its glorious history? With the unparalleled individual ability of their stars, led by the magical, …